Chapter 10: Thinking and Problem Solving Olivia Sheridan, Deanna Fugate, and Sarah Oberman

Classic Problems and General Methods of Solution Five categories of problem solving techniques Domain-independent

Problem Solving Techniques 1)Generate-and-Test Technique: Solver comes up with multiple possible solutions to an issue and “tests” them until one of them works 2)Means-Ends Analysis: An individual wants to get from their current state to a desired state in the most effective way possible. 3)Working Backward: The solver takes the reverse steps to get a final goal

Working Backward Activity An example: Sarah walked from taking Chuck’s test to her dorm room. She decided to make a pit stop on the way; because of all the tears in her eyes it took her 1 hour and 25 minutes to walk to Johnny’s. Then it took 25 minutes to walk from Johnny’s to her dorm. She arrived at her dorm at 2:45 P.M. At what time did she leave Chuck’s test?

Answer UNDERSTAND: You need to find what the time was when Sarah left Chuck’s test. 2) PLAN: How can you solve the problem? You can work backwards from the time Sarah reached the dorm roon. Subtract the time it took to walk from Johnny’s to her dorm. Then subtract the time it took to walk from Chuck’s test to Johnny’s. 3) SOLVE: Start at 2:45. This is the time Sarah reached her dorm. Subtract 25 minutes. This is the time it took to get from Johnny’s to her dorm. Time is: 2:20 P.M. Subtract: 1 hour 25 minutes. This is the time it took to get from Chuck’s test to Johnny’s. Sarah left Chuck’s test at 12:55 P.M.

Problem Solving Techniques continued… 4) Backtracking: Possible solutions are listed and kept track of but can be changed if proven to be incorrect. 5) Reasoning by Analogy: The solver uses a comparison between a problem that has already been answered and a current problem

Blocks to Solving Problems Constraints on solving problems include barriers that restrain one’s ability to think logically and rationally. Sometimes blocks are so strong that they interfere with one’s capacity to reach a conclusion and actively solve tasks.

Mental Set Mental set is the tendency to see a problem in only one way as opposed to seeing it from multiple standpoints. Mental set often causes people to make certain unwarranted assumptions without being aware of making them. Class Examples: Nine-dot-problem, man at home man in a mask, two-string problem (functional fixedness).

Using Incomplete or Incorrect Representations A separate difficulty in solving problems has to do with the original interpretation of the problem. The situation can result in failure if the solver focuses on the wrong information or if the problem is misunderstood. Class Example: checkerboard problem & numbers game.

Expert Systems Problem space hypothesis created by expert systems Computer based system created because humans are limited, not experts Humans are biased, can become overwhelmed Inference rules- if- then

Finding Creative Solutions Thoughts for artists or inventors said to work in different ways. Already have insight towards solving problem Frame of reference organized and interpreted differently than those less creative

Unconscious Processing and Incubation Working on a problem without giving rise to conscious awareness Working out a problem in the same way many times, difficulty getting problem right because used to solving problem in a certain way

Everyday Mechanisms Creative invention: directly remembering past experience or knowledge with various constraints noticing where the problem is: aha moment Contrary recognition: identifying an object beyond reality- cloud as a castle